🥔 Cheesy Garlic Hasselback Potatoes (Skillet or Oven-Baked)
⏱ Time
Prep: 15 minutes
Bake: 45–55 minutes
Total: ~1 hour
🍽 Serves
4–6 people
🧾 Ingredients
Potatoes
6–8 medium Yukon Gold or baby potatoes
(Yukon Golds are best—creamy inside, crisp outside)
Garlic Butter Sauce
4 tbsp unsalted butter
2 tbsp olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
½ tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
½ tsp paprika (optional)
½ tsp dried thyme or rosemary
Cheese Layer
1½ cups shredded cheese
Best combo: mozzarella + cheddar
Optional upgrade: add Gruyère or Parmesan
Creamy Finish
½ cup heavy cream or half-and-half
Garnish
Fresh parsley or thyme, finely chopped
Extra cracked black pepper
🔪 Instructions
1️⃣ Prep the Potatoes
Wash and scrub potatoes well (leave skin on)
Slice almost all the way through, spacing cuts about ⅛ inch apart
Don’t cut all the way—keep the base intact
👉 Trick: Place potato between two chopsticks or wooden spoons while slicing
2️⃣ Make the Garlic Butter
Melt butter with olive oil in a small pan
Add garlic, salt, pepper, paprika, and herbs
Cook 30 seconds until fragrant (don’t brown)
3️⃣ Arrange & Season
Preheat oven to 400°F / 200°C
Place potatoes in a baking dish or cast-iron skillet
Brush garlic butter generously over and into the cuts
Sprinkle lightly with salt
4️⃣ First Bake (Softening Stage)
Cover loosely with foil
Bake 30 minutes
👉 This step makes the potatoes tender inside
5️⃣ Add Cheese & Cream
Remove foil
Gently open potato slices with a spoon
Stuff cheese between the cuts
Pour cream evenly around the potatoes
Sprinkle remaining cheese on top
6️⃣ Final Bake (Golden & Crispy)
Return to oven uncovered
Bake 15–25 minutes until:
Tops are golden and blistered
Cheese is bubbling
Edges are crisp
👉 For extra browning: broil 2–3 minutes at the end
✨ Finish & Serve
Spoon buttery sauce from the pan over potatoes
Garnish with fresh parsley
Serve hot 🧈🧀
🔥 Pro Tips for That Exact Look
Use Yukon Gold potatoes
Don’t rush the first bake
Finely shred cheese so it melts into the cuts
Cast iron gives the best browning
🌶 Variations
Garlic Parmesan: Skip cream, add more butter + Parmesan
Loaded Style: Add cooked bacon + green onions
Spicy: Add chili flakes or cayenne
Extra Creamy: Mix cream with 2 tbsp cream cheese
